We Almost Had a Baptism -July 23, 2017

Magandang araw sa inyong lahat!

This week was quite... interesting.  So, we were supposed to have a baptism this week, who was the grandson of the first counselor of the branch presidency (his name is Steven). All of his lessons had been going fine, and he had been reading the Book of Mormon and has a testimony of the gospel. He passed the baptismal interview and everything was scheduled to go.  On the day of the baptism, however, my companion and I felt something was off.  We went to pick up Steven to make sure he was ready.  We get there and he's dressed in basketball shorts, a cutoff tee and watering plants.  We realize something is up and we say we will come back after we talk to his grandma, the Relief Society President.  We get there and they tell us everything was ready to go, they went to the church and found out their grandson wasn't there.  They go back home and find out their grandson is hiding at his other grandma's house (He's 14 by the way).  

After learning about what happened, we return to his house and we try and talk with him to just learn why he suddenly changed his mind.  We sit there patiently and encourage him to help us understand but he doesn't say anything for the 40 minutes we were there.  We then felt it was time to leave, so we let him know that we would always be just one text/call away if he needed help with anything and we left a prayer for him.

Hopefully his time will come shortly.

However, this does have a silver-lining. We found a new part-member family who really really wants to be baptized so they can eventually go to the temple and be sealed! They are awesome! They all have a baptismal date for the 12 of August and they are doing very well!  

This rollercoaster of a week has really helped me appreciate the strength that comes from the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  Our Savior did not just suffer for our sins, He also suffered for all of our heartaches.  All of our pain, both physical and spiritual, He has felt.  He understands exactly how to comfort us, all we need to do is seek that comfort and He will be there to give it to us.

I know that my Redeemer lives, and o what comfort that sentence gives to me.  I love my Savior, and I know He loves me too.  

Until next week,

Mahal ko kayong lahat